"Ah... okay, you are the muse, that makes more sense. Zashier do you want to tell him about what we know of the guest at the inn that is the prime suspect? He gave no name, and was oddly nondescript, though Zashier thinks his room and things he touched smelled like an orc. No offense. Half-offense. Anyhow, what do you think of the theory that there's an advance scout or operative from some orcish or giant hostile endeavor in Fallcrest, trying to do something nefarious, who got wind of Romero's sniffing around. This operative perhaps can change his appearance at will, though not his smell. He decided to pounce on Romero last night when he was distracted and drunk, to end a detective potentially unearthing his plans." Lem starts listing off details he's remembered from this... Melira, and the note to Melira about the search...the hammer and the rock note.... 

"Zashier, you have the notes I think. Katrezra, anything ring a bell, with your visions, even? Is there a way to track him via smell? Or a way to find out where he's staying, or what he's seeking in town? Who he might be working with? If we can get on his trail, then you can stop looking over your shoulder. I don't mind having to look over mine. This ****er won't like it if he tries to sneak up on me or the rest of our group in a dark alley. Won't go well."

The dwarf has abandoned all caution or suspicion with the half-orc, forgetting he just met him.

Thistle watches Bireal go, then lets a held breath out slowly and looks at Yokini. "I... um."

She looks around to hide a blush, her brain catching up to what was discussed. "We should, uh, find the others, and let them know what we've learned. We can stop by the Ramble House and see if they've returned from Clamor, or go on to meet them there if they're not back."

"We're pretty sure Romero's death was murder now, right? The angle of the cuts, the substance on the lips. I wonder if the others caught up to that old half-orc?"

“Old half-orc?” Yokini asks. “Oh, that’s right,” she says distractedly. “I want to get this back to my lab,” she says of the substance from Romero’s lips. As they are walking out, she comments, “What time does she want us to come over tonight?”

Zashier had largely just nodded along wherever it seemed appropriate, not even appearing to mind Lem's delayed connection. "I have the what now? Oh, right, right, right... Wait.. do I?" He spends a few moments rooting around in his backpack, but is soon shaking his head. Then his eyes widen just before he's snapping his fingers a few times. "Right, right, right! You still have it man. I remember now. Had me give it a few good wiffs to make sure, but you wanted to examine it a bit more for whatever reason. Think you folded it up nice and neat like and pocketed it before we left, if memories serves me right. Which it is wanton to do." He said, nodding enthusiastically on that last point.

"Fraid' we'd have to get Bitts for any smell tracking though. Good as the 'ol trunk here is, I can hardly hold a candle to the old boy. Or we could go find what's his face lil Biri mentioned 'fore." He rambles off, wholly forgetting or assuming Lem already knew what he was talking about on both accounts. "Omast Frum, I think it was. Old time friend of the family's. Speaking of old time friends, you mentioned having the book, I do believe, Mr. Katrezra? Might we have a look at it 'fore we go tottering off?"

Lem snaps his fingers without a pause and hands over the note, not even processing he'd forgotten he had it. His brow wrinkles in confusion when Zashier talks about Bitts and Frum and Biri.

OOC > Yokini’s response about made me spit-take my water! Also, she has a nickname!? Awww. “Biri” 💕

Thistle nearly stumbles as they are going down the steps of the Sanctuary. “Oh, um, no! I mean, I think that was a... um, a private invitation...” She smiles at the gnome. “We spent the night together... last night, before all of this. Um. So, yes, back to your lab, then? Check on the blood from before, and this powder, too?”

"Oh, like a slumber party?" Yokini asks, no hint of emotion in her tone. "OK, I'm not sure how long the next step in trying to analyze the blood will take, so it's probably best I don't make any plans." She shakes the vial with the new substance in it in front of her eyes. "And I've got this to figure out, too."

Trying to change the subject, Thistle continues, “I’d wager a silver that substance was to make him groggy. He was strong and a trained fighter, his murderer would need a way to get an advantage. I wonder how it was given to him...”

"That's a good guess," Yokini replies. "Drug him and then kill him. Perhaps it was in something he drank. Or ate. No other reason to put something up against his lips that I can think of."

Katrezra To Lem

Sir Dwarf, I believe you have made a very astute observation. I think it is quite possible Romero stumbled upon a nefarious scheme, conducted by some advanced scout, as you say. However, I have no idea who could have killed him, and I am a seer. I feel awful that I couldn’t predict the ill fate that befell him. But, even if I had, I have learned there is little one can do to combat fate.

“I have seen visions of the Plague House many times these past few weeks, and though I can’t say with any certainty what these divinations might mean, I believe there is more beneath the ashes of the Burned Church than soot and rubble.

You may find more answers there, and perhaps you can succeed where Romero failed.

Katrezra says he is feeling tired, and would like to excuse himself, if you don’t have any more questions. As Sara helps him into the back room again, he pulls out a worn leather journal and hands it to Lem.

I hope this helps you in your investigation. If Romero were alive, he would be lucky to count you amongst his friends.

----------

Thistle and Yokini, you continue your uncomfortable conversation as you slowly make your way back to the Ramblehouse. 

As I mentioned earlier, the sun is sinking in the sky. It is evening in the city. You all may want to consider where you will be resting for the night after this long day of interrogations and invesitagation.

“He could have been kissed,” Thistle says thoughtfully. At Yokini’s expected query, she adds, “Another way the substance could have gotten to his lips. He could have been kissed. I’m not saying it’s likely, Zashier suggested Brinya was well broken up about his death. But.” She shrugs.

When they arrive at the Ramblehouse, Thistle will look for the others while letting Yokini go to her laboratory.

If she doesn’t find them, she’ll settle at a table for some dinner to wait a little while before heading out again.

Lem thanks Sara and Katrezra awkwardly, and immediately begins reading the book, hoping Zashier guides his path. Moon alights on the top of his head, and he uses the raven's eyes to keep watch for potholes and walls every 30 seconds, the dwarf's eyes never leaving the pages. He's not focused on nighttime, protection from unseen killers, investigating the plague house, anything. Only the journal.

Zashier thanks the duo as well, though not without shedding a few thankful tears. Before they depart, the elephantine man reached out intending to pay the aged half-orc by sending the good vibes(Lay on Hands:(5hp) in grasping the shoulder. A minor comfort, but one he hoped my help ease finding rest. "The feeling was mutual, and we -will- succeed, of that you can rest assured." With a final nod, Zashier would depart not long after, mouthing a final 'thank you' to Sara on the duo's way out.

Unfortunately for Lem, Zashier had no means of granting light during their journey, as his axe remained at home. The thought of which -- the thought of home during the trek left him far more visibly tired than he did throughout the day. But after a time, he would notice Lem's own distraction, and so would stilled himself to keep alert, and gradually direct the dwarf towards the Rumblehouse and Yokini's family. Where he hoped to find the gnome hard at work of some newfound clue.

Its not too dark to travel without light, but let the record show that Zashier is without his axe...

Zashier, your thanks is noted, and even though you lay on hands with Katrezra, it shows no obvious sign of healing. Whatever ailment he has, it seems to be permanent, and ongoing. Nevertheless, he thanks you for attempting. He felt the positive energy, but whatever good feeling it gave was temporary...fleeting. You help guide Lem, who barely even registers the outside world as he pores through the journal.

Thistle and Yokini, you find your way back to the Ramblehouse. As Yokini switches into "mad scientist" mode and makes her way down to the basement labratory, Thistle makes her way to a table for some dinner....

...A table she is soon joined at by Zashier and Lem, whose nose is still in the book. 

Yokini's mom, Cargyra, stops by the table to take your order, but doesnt have time to stay and chat, as there are other people at the restaurant area tonight. (see below)

At the Ramblehouse (by the way) the "police rope" has been taken down, and business seems to have gotten back to normal. Romero's room he had been staying in is likely still closed up for cleaning, but the town seems to have been very happy for things to get back to a semblance of normal, and the dining room is pretty full - the townsfolk dont hold Yokini's family at all responsible, and have decided to show their continued support of the business by offering their patronage during this trying time.

Lem, I assume you will share what you read, so I will post some of the journal info here next.

Where is everyone planning on staying this evening, and what are your plans for regrouping in the morning?

Yokini, what would you like to do down in the basement?

Lem, you read through the journal, and you see several things:

- a history of his love affair with Brinya,

- their clandestine meetings at the Plague House so they could meet without being seen (as many young lovers do),

-clues and musings on several other solved investigations.

You read of his encounter at the Plague house with a flood troll - he had been waiting for Brinya to arrive and stumbled upon the flood troll in the burned out building - and how he and the troll fled the Plague House (Romero must have surprised the troll, and Romero knowing he couldnt fight a troll on his own, they both ran in opposite directions), and that he intends to return to the Plague House to resume his investigation into what is going on in Fallcrest

The last entry he made the night of Ruby's hopeknife ceremony is below.

All clues from the journal and Katrezra's visions point to the root of this conspiracy (and hopefully some answers) being at the Plague House.

If any of you have trouble reading the journal, let me know, and I will type up what it says.

Thistle listens to the recounting of their interview with Katrezra, piecing together the gist of it from Zashier's oratory and Lem's distractedness. She nods along, "That makes a lot of sense, knowing what we know now. But the man seen here," she nods to the upstairs, "Bears no resemblance to a troll of any sort, so I don't imagine the Plague House will be the end of our investigation. Still, it is a lead we should follow."

She relates to them what she and Yokini learned in the Sanctuary, how they put two and two together about Katrezra, but the others were already on it. About the evidence that Romero was the victim of foul play, and about Yokini's discovery of the substance on his lips. "She's downstairs investigating it now. Someone should probably take her some food, I doubt she'll remember to eat."

She takes a moment to gather her thoughts, but seems unusually distracted, glancing at the door and the darkening sky outside. "It seems we've still some fair bit of work to do. The Plague House seems better visited the light of day, if there are trolls there. And we still have not interviewed a few people, Omast Frum among them. Romero's father was not available, rode out today after being informed of the murder... should we strike out again in the morning?"

OOC > Thistle fully intends to call on Bireal tonight, if she can extricate herself from the party. Though she is not certain if that means she'll be invited to stay the night there, she is hopeful.

After Thistle's comment about Romero's possible kiss, Yokini makes a noise of confusion. "Kiss?" She glances at the rogue, looking for all the world like she has never even heard the word before. "Oh, someone could have kissed him," she repeats, understanding taking hold. She shrugs, looking dubious. "I guess that's true. Whoever it was should have also been affected in that case. Unless they were somehow immune."

Once back at the Ramblehouse, Yokini first checks on the progress of the blood analysis. If it's time to continue those steps, she will do that first. Analyzing the new substance is less important in her mind.

Yokini, the first process of extracting the blood from the cloth was successful. You feel pretty confident as you mix another tincture, that the process of comparing the blood samples should be done by morning if you let it set overnight.

Assuming you move on to analyzing the the new substance next, you set to work in your lab. I wont make you roll for it - in this environment, with your full set of supplies, and ample time, you will be able to figure out what it is.

At first you are able to distract yourself with the work, but as you work on measuring and mixing, crushing and dissolving, your mind wanders back over the day's discoveries and the investigation at hand, and once you figure out what the substance is, you are now 100% certain Romero was murdered...you just dont know why. What did he stumble upon? what was he caught up in? Who could have wanted him dead.

You are thinking about how this as the mixture changes color. you consult a chart, and you can confirm the substance is Oil of Taggit, which is a poison that causing unconsciousness. If he was unconscious, there is no way he could have committed suicide. Someone must have knocked him out , then killed him. but how could they have gotten in? Then you remember the disturbance of dust under the bed, like something big had been there. At first you all thought whoever killed him must have taken whatever was under the bed, but now it dawns on you - that could have been someone hiding under the bed. Once Romero came in the room, drunk, he probably laid down, and whoever was hiding under the bed could have slid out, poison on a rag, put it over his mouth, and knocked him out. Then made it look like suicide.

You are certain - there is a murderer out there. Will he kill again? If you dont know why he did it, then there is no telling if/when he might strike again.

All of these thoughts swirl through your head as you finish up in the lab (and I assume make your way back upstairs, while your other tincture for the blood works overnight)

(If Yokini comes upstairs and joins the crew, and tells us what she has found and suspects, I’d like Thistle to react to that before we move on...)

Yokini stomps up the stairs to the main floor hoping to find Thistle and is rewarded to find Lem and Zashier as well. "Oil of Taggit!" she says almost angrily, banging on the tabletop with her small fist. "That's how they did it. You remember those scuff marks in the dust under the bed? I bet whoever murdered Romero was waiting there, slid out when he was asleep or maybe passed out, drugged him with the oil of Taggit, which causes unconsciousness, and then used his own knife to make the cuts so it would look like a suicide." She climbs into a chair. "Now, the question is who and why." She sighs. "Oh, I should be able to compare the blood samples in the morning. Now that we know Romero was drugged, I'm a little less hopeful we have the murderer's blood mixed in as well, but we won't know unless we try."